The Great Ideas of Philosophy, 2nd Edition

Grasp the important ideas that have served as the backbone of philosophy across the ages with this extraordinary 60-lecture series. This is your opportunity to explore the enormous range of philosophical perspectives and ponder the most important and enduring of human questions-without spending your life poring over dense philosophical texts.

Food: A Cultural Culinary History

Eating is an indispensable human activity. As a result, whether we realize it or not, the drive to obtain food has been a major catalyst across all of history, from prehistoric times to the present. Epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said it best: "Gastronomy governs the whole life of man."

The Foundations of Western Civilization

What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.

Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making

Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.

Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills

No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.

The Story of Human Language

Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.

The Passions: Philosophy and the Intelligence of Emotions

Conventional wisdom suggests there is a sharp distinction between emotion and reason. Emotions are seen as inferior, disruptive, primitive, and even bestial forces. These 24 remarkable lectures suggest otherwise-that emotions have intelligence and provide personal strategies that are vitally important to our everyday lives of perceiving, evaluating, appraising, understanding, and acting in the world.

Why You Are Who You Are: Investigations into Human Personality

To understand the roots of personality is to understand motivations and influences that shape behavior, which in turn reflect how you deal with the opportunities and challenges of everyday life. That's the focus of these exciting 24 lectures, in which you examine the differences in people's personalities, where these differences come from, and how they shape our lives. Drawing on information gleaned from psychology, neuroscience, and genetics, Professor Leary opens the door to understanding how personality works and why.

No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life

What is life? What is my place in it? What choices do these questions obligate me to make? More than a half-century after it burst upon the intellectual scene - with roots that extend to the mid-19th century - Existentialism's quest to answer these most fundamental questions of individual responsibility, morality, and personal freedom, life has continued to exert a profound attraction.

Elements of Jazz: From Cakewalks to Fusion

Jazz is a uniquely American art form, one of America's great contributions to not only musical culture, but world culture, with each generation of musicians applying new levels of creativity that take the music in unexpected directions that defy definition, category, and stagnation.

Now you can learn the basics and history of this intoxicating genre in an eight-lecture series that is as free-flowing and original as the art form itself.

Understanding the Mysteries of Human Behavior

Every day of your life is spent surrounded by mysteries that involve what appear to be rather ordinary human behaviors. What makes you happy? Where did your personality come from? Why do you have trouble controlling certain behaviors? Why do you behave differently as an adult than you did as an adolescent?Since the start of recorded history, and probably even before, people have been interested in answering questions about why we behave the way we do.

Bringing together the imaginative strategies of fiction storytelling and new ways of narrating true, real-life events, creative nonfiction is the fastest-growing part of the creative writing world. It's a cutting-edge genre that's reshaping how we write (and read) everything from biographies and memoirs to blogs and public speaking scripts to personal essays and magazine articles.

Publisher's Summary

Taught by an international adviser to leaders of Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and governments, this eye-opening course reveals how you can actively improve your cultural intelligence in an increasingly globalized world.

Based on groundbreaking research, these 24 lectures address dynamics and customs related to working, socializing, dining, marriage and family - all the areas necessary to help you function with a greater level of respect and effectiveness wherever you go. You'll also encounter practical tips and crucial context for greeting, interacting with, and even managing people from other parts of the world.

In the first half, you'll analyze 10 cultural value dimensions that researchers have identified as helpful for comparing cultures; and you'll see how these "archetypes" play out in day-to-day lives. In the second half, you'll look at 10 cultural clusters around the world that - when combined with your understanding of the 10 cultural dimensions - provide strategic insight into how to be more effective as you live, work, and travel in our globalized world.

Why do people from certain cultures have little regard for time? Why might working overtime reflect poorly on you in Scandinavia? Why should you avoid using your left hand when interacting with someone from the Arab world? You'll find out the answers to these and other intriguing questions in Customs of the World.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

I've always been a bit on the smug side about my cultural awareness, having been very fortunate to travel a lot since childhood, and work in many different countries since, but I found these lectures very interesting with a good framework behind them. Well presented too, highly recommended!

In general is accurate : )I have asked to Thai and Japanese people about the anecdotes and stories, they confirmed them. However, regarding latinamerican culture, is generally accurate, not totally. But he is the expert, so I am open to check this with other latinamericans.

What did you love best about Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are?

I absolutely love The Great Courses. I've listened to at least 30 of them, and I have to say that Customs of the World might be my favorite. It was so packed with observations that were both fascinating and practical, I think I'll find myself wanting to listen again in years to come.

I'm struggling in my mind to suggest a better name for this course, because it's about so much more than customs. It's about how culture profoundly affects how people and societies interact, along with practical advice on how to observe and interact with people from all cultures and subcultures both around the world and at home. This course is invaluable not only to world travelers, but to anybody who engages with people from other cultures, whether at work or socially.

Professor Livermore divides the course into three sections. The first explains the concept behind cultural intelligence. The second set of lectures is a comprehensive look at the ten established dimensions along which cultures consistently differ. The final set of lectures takes a deep dive into each of the major cultural regions of the world, pointing out the dominant norms of each, along with suggestions on how to observe and interact with people from within those regions.

What about Professor David Livermore’s performance did you like?

Professor Livermore is clearly a prominent academic leader in this field, but he is also a remarkably experienced traveler and a captivating storyteller. Throughout the course, he draws on his own experiences to enrich the discussion and make it personal. He is excellent.

It's not a full guide of do's and don'ts, but it provides some key guidelines on each social clusters and how to learn more.

73 of 77 people found this review helpful

Kathy

Davis, CA, United States

28/06/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Unexpectedly brilliant!"

I didn't have any interest in listening to a lecture from the Great Course series. After all, I spent umpteen years attending college. I figured that part of my life was over. But here was a topic that greatly interested me and at a great price, too. I couldn't let it pass.

From the moment I started listening, I felt a deep nostalgia for my university days. I also knew I was going to really enjoy this listen. This course is so wonderful that I want to highly recommend it to anyone who has even the slightest interest in the subject of cultural intelligence. The format is so pleasant--a series of related but separate lectures, each one leading into the next one.

Even if you aren't planning overseas travel, you will find so much relevant information here that will explain behaviors that have puzzled or even irritated you in the past. And if you are planning on overseas travel, you will have a bunch of new information that will be immensely helpful to you. If you aren't able to interact with the "natives", you will still be equipped to look for various things that will tell you much about the culture you are visiting. Additionally, Professor Livermore gives you some do's and don't's to further enhance your knowledge and your travel. He is a wonderful lecturer, too.

I enjoyed this book so much that I know it will be a repeat listen for me. It has also inspired me to look for further Great Courses subjects that sound interesting. This experience has been as enjoyable as any of my favorite audiobooks.

22 of 23 people found this review helpful

malin

13/12/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"First half kind of interesting, second half great!"

What was one of the most memorable moments of Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are?

The most memorable moment was without a doubt when he spoke about my own culture, the Nordic cluster. Dead on! Made me realize that what I take for 'normal behavour' is normal mainly if you are Swedish. I have lived in several different cultures, mainly Latin and south Asian, and now I'm making my Latin boyfriend listen to the course, mainly to prove that I'm not weird, just Nordic.

What about Professor David Livermore’s performance did you like?

I loved how he didn't over compare to US culture, and didn't say US ways were superior.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Many, it mainly confirmed, and gave a reason for things I already kind of knew.

Any additional comments?

I could have skipped the first half of the course, or shorten it quite a bit, too much fluff for my liking. The second half is extremely interesting and useful. Well worth waiting for.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Exsular

France

23/11/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"11 hours in a breeze."

What did you learn from Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are that you would use in your daily life?

It's packed with insightful moments. And the more you listen, the more your own culture becomes strange to yourself. This means your cultural intelligence is growing. It will help you become more effective in your dealings with cultures around you.

Any additional comments?

My best audiobook, in 9 years of customer loyalty to Audible.

31 of 34 people found this review helpful

tony mancill

Vancouver, WA United States

06/08/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Starts strong but fades..."

The first half of this course is interesting and really pretty good. Professor Livermore has participated in some interesting research and developed a system/language for talking about cultural awareness/intelligence ("CQ" in the course). And there is definitely some good information and concepts that will help you gain perspective and be better equipped to understand and interact with people from other cultures.

The 3-star ranking is because of the tendency the author has to talk about his own personal experiences, many of them banal, and present them as evidence of some general cultural dimension. This ranged from annoying (and frequently so) to contradictory in few cases. Another problem with the course is the author's multiple exhortations to "slow down" and "relax" and "enjoy" cultural differences. The repetition kept reminding me that I wasn't learning anything new after about lecture 10 or 11.

My impression is that the first half of the course is well researched, and thus fairly coherent and well presented, but that the second half of the course is thrown together.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Adi

21/06/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Wide breadth of material, yet lacking depth"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to most people as a primer to various cultures around the world and familiarise them to the various dimensions that are used to measure differences between cultures.While it serves as a useful index of cultural norms and practices, it does suffer from broad generalised claims. The writer did admit that not all members of a certain culture would behave as he described, he did not try to investigate too deeply upon the internal differences of cultures.There is also a missed opportunity to address the effects of variables such as economic, religious and other factors that might affects how a group of people manifest their practices as a culture.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I wish that the writer would address how socio-economic, religious and other factors affect cultures, and also the malleability of members of certain cultures to new practices. The audiobook resembles a travel guide more than a rigorous study of culture.I am sure that this book could've benefited from incorporating the latest literature on behavioral economics and anthropology.

What about Professor David Livermore’s performance did you like?

I think his reading is personable and I can't find discernible flaw throughout the audiobook.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I have the opportunity to, maybe I will listen to it in one sitting, but some parts made me cringe too much. It is usually the part where the culture I am familiar with is described to be an unrecognisable caricature.

30 of 36 people found this review helpful

Noëlle505

NM

06/07/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Informative and well presented"

Where does Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Having had a lifelong interest in diversity and the ways of other cultures, I found this lecture series to impart a wealth of information. The professor was engaging and extremely well-traveled and informed. He shared a personal and valuable insight into the patterns of other cultures and how they think and act, offering many illustrations. Having recently traveled to SE Asia for the first time, it shed light on some of my perceptions and experiences, and encouraged me to appreciate even more all the fascinating and wonderful people who share the world. I especially appreciated his discussion of the importance of being open to experiencing new foods, music, religious beliefs, and etiquette in order to fully engage and benefit from the beauty and wonder of those less familiar to me.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are?

The discussion of how the importance of family, food, and religious beliefs color customs and culture in various groups.

Have you listened to any of Professor David Livermore’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I'd like to hear more of his insights.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are?

The importance of one being respectful, accepting, and open to the different customs of the world's inhabitants to fully be a member of the human race in all its diversity.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

wiznut

06/07/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Starts at chapter 11"

Would you consider the audio edition of Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are to be better than the print version?

I find lectures grab me if the immersion stars early. I didn't read the print but i can say that If i had read it i would not have made it to the point to which it was rewarding.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are?

The personal journey.

What three words best describe Professor David Livermore’s voice?

His approach to reach out to every one came at a price to me. Voice wise he was fine but his drawn out efforts to support all of his information after chapter 11 wore on me. In saying that; It was very worth my time after that.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It would have to be a collection of skits of how we all see things differently. Some what like the award winning " Traffic " the movie, but on a wider and different spectrum.

Any additional comments?

Stick it out until chapter 11.The tone and enjoyment take off from there and makes the journey worth it. Had it started at 11 I would have given it a greater rating.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

fredetteb

07/04/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"One of the best of "Great Courses" books"

This has to be one of the best "Great Courses" books I have listened to. Professor Livermore has a great delivery and is incredibly knowledgeable of the topic. Anyone that travels or works with different cultures needs to listen to this course.

19 of 23 people found this review helpful

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